COLUMN: Dear Health Reform: We're ready for you

It is no surprise to anyone reading this that we are in a time of unprecedented change in our health care system in the United States. Some of these changes could lead to profound improvements to patient care and some may leave us further behind than when we started. Either way, clinicians, administrators and staff at CaroMont Health are facing these major shifts head on so that your local health system will be here for years to come.

There is much at stake in our success for both Gaston County and the surrounding areas. We are the economic engine that drives much of the major growth for our communities. We also fulfill our non-profit mission by providing $1 million per week in free healthcare to those who need it most. And because we are locally controlled and operated, you can count on us to provide the best possible care to our neighbors and friends. It is our top priority.

A real challenge for CaroMont moving forward is the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. While politicians will continue to debate the merits of the law, we are focused on dealing with the thousands of pages of regulation that are coming from Washington. Fortunately, many past and current leaders of our organization have had great foresight in predicting the strategies that will make us successful in this new era. Whether it is new government quality measurements or changes to how we bill Medicare patients, we are already finding solutions to help make everything work seamlessly.

Under the new laws on the books, the way health care providers will be paid by both government and private insurance will incentivize us to provide higher quality care more efficiently and with fewer resources. The innovative thinkers at CaroMont Health have already been “doing more with less” for a long time, and we are poised for success in this new model of care coordination and accountability.

Finally, it is clear that there is a lot of confusion about Obamacare and how it will impact our patient’s ability to receive care. Our role as the health care leader in the area is to educate and inform our communities about the opportunities and pitfalls that are coming. That is why we are proud to be teaming up with the Gaston Gazette and other non-profits in the community to roll out the My Healthcare Reformed campaign over the next few months. Our efforts will focus on providing one-on-one, on the ground support for individuals working to understand their health care options. No matter what is thrown at us, we will always be your trusted partner for health care in your community. Thank you for allowing us to serve you and your families for so many decades. I look forward to seeing you around town.